Nowon-gu Creates Resident-Friendly Space by Clearing Street Stalls on Railway Idle Land Near Wolgye Station

Illegal Street Vendors from Exit 3 of Wolgye Station to Wolgye Station Underground Passage Exit, Emerging Since the Late 1980s, Deepen Local Conflicts... Various Solutions Proposed for Vendors' Livelihoods Including Relocation, Job Connection, and Welfare Services... Agreement Signed with Railroad Corporation for Donation and Free Use of the Site

Bird's-eye view

Current Status of the Site

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will transform the idle railway land near Wolgye Station into a resident-friendly space.

The target site covers a total area of 428㎡, spanning from Exit 3 of Wolgye Station to the Wolgye Underground Passage Exit (a straight length of 200㎡). The project includes road improvements for a safe walking environment, creation of green spaces such as resident rest areas, and installation of sculptures.

To this end, a memorandum of understanding was signed last year with the Metropolitan Headquarters of the Korea National Railway Corporation. The process involves Nowon-gu creating the resident-friendly space and donating the facilities, after which the Railway Corporation grants free use of the national land.

To expedite the project, the district is also accelerating the removal of illegal structures near Wolgye Station. Since the 1980s, street stalls such as pojangmacha have gradually appeared in the area, leading to unauthorized occupation of illegal buildings. This has caused not only interruptions in pedestrian pathways but also ongoing complaints related to hygiene, security, loud noise from intoxicated individuals, and vomiting.

Amid escalating conflicts between residents and street vendors, the district has held multiple meetings with vendors since 2020 to seek solutions together.

Various welfare services have been provided, including relocation to street vending areas in other districts, linking elderly vendors to job opportunities, selecting basic livelihood security recipients, and connecting residents living in illegal stalls to rental housing, thereby offering diverse livelihood support measures for street vendors.

As a result, agreements have been reached with occupants of 5 out of 16 illegal structures, and demolition of 106㎡ out of a total 238㎡ was confirmed by last year. For the remaining 11 sites involving 9 individuals who have not agreed, the district plans to proceed with administrative adjudication this year while continuing negotiations during the process to achieve an amicable compromise.

With the visible progress in removing illegal stalls in an area that had long been a source of persistent complaints, residents’ reactions have been positive.

The district is also focusing on improving street vendor areas to create a pleasant walking environment. A total of 21 street vendor sites near Seokgye Station are being improved in three sections, with completion expected in March.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, "Although this has been a long-standing wish of the residents, it was not easy to proceed because cooperation from street vendors whose livelihoods depend on the Korea National Railway land was necessary. I am glad that we have laid the groundwork for a solution. We will continue to strive for a safe walking environment and a pleasant urban landscape."